Marbled Grouper
Dermatolepis inermis
Also called Sicklefish grouper.
How to tell it
Dark gray-brown grouper with pale marbling and a very deep body; a humpbacked look; rare on deep reefs.
Often mistaken for
One fish that gets called marbled grouper, and what gives it away.
- Gag grouper: Gray with worm-like markings. Tell them apart
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AlabamaFederal rule (Gulf federal waters) | No size limit | See note | Year-roundNOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · likely · checked | Check |
| Florida (Atlantic) | No size limit | See note | Year-roundFWC 2026 · likely · checked | Check |
| Florida (Gulf) | No size limit | See note | Year-roundFWC 2026 · likely · checked | Check |
| GeorgiaFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | See note | Year-roundSAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · likely · checked | Check |
| LouisianaFederal rule (Gulf federal waters) | No size limit | See note | Year-roundNOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · likely · checked | Check |
| MississippiFederal rule (Gulf federal waters) | No size limit | See note | Year-roundNOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · likely · checked | Check |
| North CarolinaFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | See note | Year-roundSAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · likely · checked | Check |
| South CarolinaFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | See note | Year-roundSAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · likely · checked | Check |
| TexasFederal rule (Gulf federal waters) | No size limit | See note | Year-roundNOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · likely · checked | Check |
Not specifically regulated in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
On the table
Edible — a rare, slow-growing grouper; most anglers release.
In the app
Point the camera at a marbled grouper and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about marbled grouper
How many marbled grouper can you keep?
Alabama: See note; Florida (Atlantic): See note; Florida (Gulf): See note; Georgia: See note; Louisiana: See note; Mississippi: See note; North Carolina: See note; South Carolina: See note; and more in the table above.
How do you tell marbled grouper from gag grouper?
Marbled Grouper: Dark gray-brown grouper with pale marbling and a very deep body; a humpbacked look; rare on deep reefs. Gag grouper: gray with worm-like markings.